Prats to join LVMH

Jean-Guillaume Prats has been confirmed as the new head of LVMH’s Estates & Wines, following his departure from Bordeaux second growth Cos D’Estournel at the end of this year.

The move, effective from February 2013, will see Prats work alongside and then replace Xavier Ybargüengoitia, who is due to retire at the end of May 2013 as CEO and president of the division.

The Estates & Wines portfolio includes Cloudy Bay in Marlborough, New Zealand; Cape Mentelle in Margaret River, Australia; Terrazas de los Andes and Cheval des Andes in Mendoza, Argentina; Newton Vineyard and Domaine Chandon in Napa Valley, California; and Numanthia in Toro, Spain.

His new Paris-based role will also see Prats take up a place as board member of the LVMH Comité Opérationnel.

Announcing Prats’ departure as managing director of Cos d’Estournel last week, the property’s owner, Michel Reybier, confirmed only that he would be taking on a “new professional challenge.”

Prats is expected to be replaced by Christophe Ranger, who has worked across a number of Reybier’s other business interests.